EDO GLOBAL
ORGANIZATION CONVENTION COMMUNIQUE - 2004
THIS IS THE COMMUNIQU� OF THE EDO GLOBAL ORGANIZATION AT THE END OF THE 2004
CONVENTION HELD IN THE CITY OF VERONA\, ITALY ON NOVEMBER 13TH AND 14TH 2004.
PREAMBLE
Edo Global Organization, a Pan Edo Charity & Cultural Organization, held its 2nd
Annual Unity Conference in Verona, Italy from Saturday 13TH to Sunday 14th
November, 2004. The theme of the Conference was:
Edo
State: working for a better tomorrow.
The conference was attended by
many Edo sons and daughters from home, Europe and the Americas.
A welcome address was presented by the National President of Edo National
Association, Italy, Dr. Osamwonyi Igori.
The President of Edo Global
Organization, Dr. Stephen Ogbonmwan. FMCOG addressed the conference on
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAWN AFTER
THE LOTUS DESSERT.
A keynote address and a total of 4 papers were presented and exhaustively
discussed. There were also two discussion sessions. All these were reviewed, at
the end of which the following resolutions were proposed, debated and adopted
and they are hereby issued as the Conference Communiqu�:
GENERAL ISSUES
1. The conference expressed it's gratitude to Omo N'Oba N' Edo Uku Apkolokpolo,
Erediauwa, CFR, Oba of Benin Kingdom for his guidance and pledge its continued
loyalty to him and the Edo Nation. Oba gha to okpere. Ise!!!
2. The conference thanked all participants from the United States of America,
Autsria, Germany, Hungary, United Kingdom, Nigeria as well as the host
Organization, Italy.
3. The keynote speech, EDO UNITY: A MEANS TO A BETTER TOMORROW was presented by
Prince (Prof.) Iro Eweka, Emeritus Professor of Psychology O.U. BRISTOL, UK. Who
addressed the need for the unification of the organization's purpose, and the
global nature of the organization becomes manifestly apparent.
4. Mrs. Omololu Edelokun Ogbeni of Omosede International Women Outreach Program
of Los Angeles speech was titled "HOW DO WE ENHANCE THE UNITY AND VIRTUES OF EDO
WOMEN IN THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE OF THE 21ST CENTURY". Her focus was on the need
to appreciate our heritage and re-enact the virtues and values of the Edo
Nation.
5. The two time Governor of the Defunct Bendel State of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. General Osaigbovo Samuel Ogbemudia (Rtd) CON. Presented a paper titled
"QUOTA SYSTEM IN EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT: IS THIS STILL RELEVANT IN
A CAPITALIST AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY LIKE NIGERIA?" The General supported the
idea of quota system having regards to the circumstances in the Country but
opined that it is no longer very useful in our deregulated and private sector
driven economy.
He called for the repackaging of Edo State to meet the current and future
challenges. He also invited participants to invest at home and concluded by
raising ten soul-seeking questions for the Edo people in Diaspora.
6. Engr. Barry Igbeare, President of National Union of Nigerian Associations in
Italy, presented a speech on EDO UNITY: THE ONLY WAY TO PROGRESS, whose focus
was on the need to look at the future of the Edo people in ITALY. The importance
of supporting one another in the area of uplifting each other in order to
present a better image in the community.
7. Sister Tina Iyare presented a speech on THE NEED TO PROMOTE EDO LANGUAGE AND
TRADITIONAL VALUES BOTH AT HOME AND IN THE DIASPORA. She presented the newly
invented Multi-Media Edo language program which is designed to provide easy
access and promote the teaching of Edo Language.
During the discussions, the conference saw a need to set up a committee to look
into the aims and objectives of the Edo Global Organization, Edopkamakhin, and
Edo National Association USA with a view to harmonizing all Edo Organizations.
Similarly, the conference took a look at Socio-political developments in the
State, particularly the build up towards 2007. It called for the adoption of
dialogue in arriving at the next leadership in the state, having due regards for
the need for peaceful co-existence, justice, excellence and the demographic
configuration of the State.
SPECIFIC ISSUES
1. Conference agreed that the central objective should be moving Edo State from
a civil service to an enterprising economy, for the effective development of the
State. The following factors were identified as critical to the attainment of
the central objectives:
i. Security.
ii. Education and health.
iii. Women's role.
iv. Youth development.
v. Funding and empowerment.
vi. Infrastructure
vii. Human Recourses
vii. Poverty alleviation & employment.
2. Conference addressed each of the above factors. It called for the
Rehabilitation/reconstruction of major roads in Edo State and decided to start
the implementation of the central objective with the following projects:
1, Provisions of BOREHOLE FOR WATER IN IDENTIFIED COMMUNITIES
2. Rehabilitation of all the traffic light in Benin City.
3. Rehabilitations of selected school buildings in Edo state.
Towards this end, the EDO Global Organization resolved to send a delegation to
Edo State in the new year to work out the modality for the commencement of these
projects.
3. Conference then adopted a resolution requesting Gen. Ogbemudia to oversee the
implementation of the proposed projects.
4. Conference harped on Edo Renaissance and called for the teaching of Edo
Language and History in all Institutions in Edo State. The conference
appreciates the establishment of The Institute of Benin Studies at Ezoti street,
Benin City and called for the re-establishment of the Institute of Benin Studies
at the University of Benin and for the institute to be introduced at the Ambrose
Ali University Ekpoma, and all similar institutions.
THIS COMMUNIQU� WAS ADOPTED AT THE UNITY CONFERENCE IN SESSION IN VERONA, ITALY,
ON SUNDAY, November 14, 2004, AND SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING.
Prince(Prof.) Iro Eweka Gen.Osaigbovo Samuel Ogbemudia CON
Dr. Stephen Ogbonmwan
President. Edo Global Organization.
Dr. Osamwonyi Igori
Augustina Omosigho Iyare
President. Edo National Asso.
Italy.
Financial Sec, Edo Global Org
